(Senior) Legal Counsel International Projects

To strengthen our legal team within our Offshore Energy business unit, we are looking for a (Senior) Legal Counsel International Projects with a focus on subsea cable installation and coastal energy infrastructure. In this role, you will provide legal support to international offshore construction projects and help our teams navigate complex contractual, maritime and commercial challenges.

The position

As (Senior) Legal Counsel International Projects, you are a trusted legal adviser to our tendering, operations, project, procurement and logistics teams. You provide pragmatic, commercially sound legal advice throughout the lifecycle of international offshore construction projects.

You will work on a broad range of construction, transportation, installation and maritime service contracts, while contributing to the successful delivery of projects in a complex and dynamic offshore environment.

Your impact

• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of offshore construction contracts, including bespoke agreements, FIDIC and LOGIC standard forms, transport & installation contracts and offshore support, maintenance and repair agreements. You advise on contractual risk allocation, including weather exposure, delays and complex maritime operations.
• Act as a trusted legal partner to tendering, project, operations, procurement and logistics teams, translating complex legal issues into clear, practical and commercially viable solutions.
• Provide general legal guidance, in close cooperation with our insurance department, on construction-related insurance matters including CAR, P&I, Hull & Machinery (H&M) and offshore project insurance. You also advise on offshore safety and environmental regulatory frameworks relevant to marine construction, transport, installation, maintenance and repair activities.
• Proactively support project-related claims and disputes, helping determine the right strategy to achieve successful outcomes while protecting Van Oord's commercial interests and maintaining key business relationships.

About you

You are a qualified construction lawyer who combines strong technical expertise with a pragmatic and commercial mindset. You are comfortable working in an international, high-risk and time-critical environment and can effectively advise stakeholders at different levels of the organisation.

• You have at least 4 years of post-qualification experience and solid experience in construction law. A UK or common law background is preferred.
• Experience in the maritime, offshore energy or offshore construction sector is highly valued. You understand the contractual and operational realities of working with vessels and complex marine operations.
• You have experience with major contract forms used in the offshore construction sector, including FIDIC and LOGIC, and are confident drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• You combine strong legal knowledge with excellent commercial awareness. You are decisive, solution-oriented and able to remain calm and effective when dealing with high-risk or time-critical situations.
• You have excellent written and spoken English communication skills and work effectively with diverse stakeholders. You demonstrate strong critical thinking, self-awareness and the ability to constructively challenge and debate within project and tender teams.

We offer

• Attractive pension scheme
• Option for collective health insurance (Van Oord pays for your supplementary package)
• Extensive development opportunities, including a comprehensive online academy via Goodhabitz
• Communities to join, such as Young Van Oord, Van Oord Women, and the Van Oord staff association
• Various events and sports activities, such as skiing, sailing weekends, cycling, and motorcycling tours